Periscope CEO’s bold statement in front of global audience at Mobile World Congress

Ready for some relationship counseling? Here we go.

"Courage is the number one factor for brand success in the digital minefield." That’s what Periscope CEO Liz Ross told a global audience at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. On the topic of brand safety in an all-digital world, Ross boldly stated that it all comes down to the quality of your relationship with people and that what brand marketers really need is to be brave and vulnerable.

First, here’s why the digital landscape can be a scary, unsafe place:

• It's easy for ads to end up in "bad" places or the wrong place at the wrong time

• What people say, good or bad, about your brand can be shared across the world in a matter of seconds

• Gone are the days of spinning your brand positive in all situations — because information sharing is too prevalent

• Crisis management costs are increasing

• It's hard for brands to stand out as consumers are bombarded with content across multiple channels

And the list goes on.

As Ross shared during her keynote, she believes the answer to these challenges lies in courage and one specific action that all businesses can take: "Know who you are for and who you are not for." In 2018, connected consumers demand authenticity and consistency in brand messaging. In a nutshell, people want a relationship with the brands and products they buy, because they aren't just making purchases, they are inviting brands into their lives. So what does that mean? Brands must become more humanized in order to relate with and meaningfully connect with consumers. That means choosing sides on certain issues, showing a personality, expressing values and putting a stake in the ground. That stake will repel some, but it will also more strongly draw in others.